Distribution of alternative fuels will be harmonised

Distribution of alternative fuels will be harmonised

On 23 March the Government submitted to Parliament a proposal on the distribution of alternative fuels in the transport sector. The proposal aims to confirm common technical standards for the recharging and refuelling points accessible to the public. Another aim is to set criteria for information to be made available to consumers and users regarding the labelling and prices of alternative fuels as well as the location of recharging and refuelling points.

The proposal aims to promote the use of alternative fuels in transport so as to reduce the dependence on oil and the harmful environmental effects of transport.

The purpose of the proposal is to facilitate the development of an alternative fuels infrastructure in Finland as part of the EU-wide network. Across the EU, all recharging and refuelling points accessible to the public should comply with the same technical standards so as to facilitate smooth cross-border transport with alternative fuel vehicles.

The proposal promotes the “Bioeconomy and clean solutions” project of the Government Programme.

“Alternative fuel vehicles play a central role in achieving Finland’s ambitious emission reduction targets. Therefore it is important that we create a network of recharging and refuelling points in Finland using the same technical standards as elsewhere in Europe. This will help increase the number of alternative fuel vehicles in Finland,” Minister of Transport and Communications Anne Berner says.

The scope of the new Act would only cover recharging and refuelling points accessible to the public. Recharging and refuelling points accessible to the public are recharging or refuelling points anyone can use and they are installed for commercial purposes or as part of commercial activities. A recharging and refuelling point is accessible to the public also when the operator itself has defined it as a service with public access. Recharging points accessible to the public available as part of commercial activities include recharging points made available as part of parking services or in shopping-centre parking lots.

Recharging points in connection with houses or workplaces are usually not accessible to the public because they are usually restricted for the use of specific users. The same applies to recharging and refuelling points reserved for certain vehicle types, such as electric cars or buses using high power recharging.

The proposed act is part of a broader package aiming to introduce a directive on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure. It is based on the obligation set in the directive that each Member State adopt a national policy framework for the development of the market as regards alternative fuels in the transport sector and the deployment of the relevant infrastructure. On 2 February, the Government adopted Finland’s national programme for a distribution network for alternative transport fuels for 2017-2030.